After round nine of the Championship, and a second successive defeat for Bristol City as they lost narrowly up at Wigan, the Robins sit in eighth position in the league.

Lee Johnson's side were left empty handed after Nick Powell's header from a Josh Windass cross sent the points the way of Paul Cook's team.

But the Robins will now look to bounce back against Aston Villa at Ashton Gate on Friday night.

An intriguing contest awaits with four former Robins likely to be in the Villa set-up (Adomah, Kodjia, Abraham and Bolasie), although the City fans will be hoping that former Villans Nathan Baker and Andreas Weimann can help peg their old club back.

And Baker in particular could be key with rumours swirling that on loan Chelsea defender Tomas Kalas has broken his jaw and will be out for six weeks.

We await official confirmation on that while the Robins could prove pivotal in Steve Bruce's future with pressure mounting on the former Hull and Birmingham boss after a home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in their previous game.

Keep an eye on below for updates across the day

Key Events

Kalas injury blow confirmed

Bristol City have confirmed tonight that key central defender Tomas Kalas has had surgery after fracturing his jaw on Friday night in the game at Wigan.

The on-loan Chelsea defender is set to be out for six weeks in a big blow for the Robins.

Tomas Kalas of Bristol City thanks the away fans after Bristol City

New deal for Grealish?

Villa’s star man could be given a boost this week with news that the midfielder will soon put pen to paper on a new deal at Villa Park. Could be a timely lift for one of Steve Bruce’s key players ahead of visiting Ashton Gate next Friday.

Jack Grealish of Aston Villa battles for the ball with Korey Smith of Bristol City

Silver lining for Villa?

15:11

Championship stats

Couple of interest league-wide stats regarding the Robins that we’ve pulled out here (stats from Opta):

Bristol City are averaging the fourth most shots per game in the league currently (13.9; behind only Wigan, Brent ford and Villa but equal with league top scorers West Brom)

Have scored the equal sixth most goals

Fewest tackles made per game in the league

Second fewest fouls committed per game

Some interesting ones there. Generally pretty good signs with City almost getting the second most shots on target per game too.

15:03

Measured fan view

Lot of sense being talked here by Sally.

13:02

Brilliant Bobby

Okay so he’s not a Bristol City player any more but this is an indication of what a great guy Bobby Reid is. The Cardiff City attacker recently took Roger Barton - a former Bristol City kitman, scout and other positions - to see Cardiff v Man City as a thank you for helping him in his career.

Lovely touch.

12:58KEY EVENT

Steve Lansdown speaks

During the week the Robins owner gave his thoughts on how the club is growing currently. Interestingly he revealed that City are gaining some traction via their commercial activities currently. Read the full quotes here.

“This is not the glamour side of the club or business but the commercial side of the business is growing,” he said, responding to a question on two of the club’s recent sponsorship tie-ups.

“I think it’s fantastic... If I look at it from a business point of view then the plan is coming together.

“We have to generate our own funds. I always talk about the club being sustainable and this is all part of that. The commercial side of the club is starting to make that progress that we always hoped it would.

“I think it will just get bigger and better,” he explained.

Bristol City majority shareholder Steve Lansdown

12:47

Taylor's happy

Birmingham goalkeeper David Stockdale has been on an emergency goalkeeper loan at Roots Hall. And he looks to have made an impression.

11:22

Goal of yesterday?

City will need to stop this sort of thing next Friday.

10:34

Former City wonderkid

Some lovely clips here from former Bristol City youngster Jacob Maddox who has been impressing this season at Cheltenham Town. The attacking midfielder is on loan from Chelsea but is doing some fine work learning his trade at Whaddon Road currently.

10:25

To cheer or jeer?

So Aston Villa at home next, and former Bristol City media officer Adam Baker has written a column on how the four former Robins now on the books at Villa might be received at Ashton Gate on Friday. Read the full column here. Here’s an extract below, as Adam provides his customary great insight on the club having spent years working behind the scenes.

Who do you cheer and who deserves the jeers?

That’s the decision Bristol City fans have to make when four of their former stars head to Ashton Gate with Aston Villa on Friday in the Sky Bet Championship.

Three of that quartet helped generate the Robins in excess of £20m in transfer dealings, but it’s likely to be the player who was only on loan at Ashton Gate that gets the biggest cheer under the lights.

Jonathan Kodjia, Yannick Bolasie, Albert Adomah and Tammy Abraham will all return to BS3 ahead of the weekend looking to strengthen their current club’s promotion charge.

10:20

Bad news to come on Kalas?

10:18

Good morning. Some interesting results yesterday in the Championship then... Who would have seen that Leeds loss coming or Aston Villa losing at home?